Improvement in washing-machines



L C. STEWART.

Washing-Machines.

No. 144,237, Pat'ented N0v`.4,\873.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. STEVAR'I, OF EUREKA, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 144,237, dated November 4, 1873; application flled August 19,1873.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J om.' C. STEWART, of Eureka, in the county of Woodford, in the State of Illinois, have invented an Improve` ment in Washing-Machmes, and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specication, in which like letters of reference refer to like parts, and in which- Figure l represents a verticallongitudinal elevation along the dotted line a a., a a, Fig. 3; Fig. 2, a vertical cross-section along the dotted line b I), Fig. l; Fig. 3, plan, with portion of one` of the dashers or pistons E broken away to show the perforated false"=l ottom B, and with axle G in like manner broken off to show the elevated sides r of the dashcrs E E; Fig. 4, view of under side of part of one of the dashcrs or pistons, showing the cells and the dividing-partitions, together with the kneading-fingers g g, &c.

This invention consists of two shallow iuverted boxes, having division-plates,` forming cells, in combination with pins placed in each cell, and a perforated false bottom resting upon cleats in the bottom of the machine, the said boxes having the usual mechanism for operating them, and arranged to act alternately as vacuum-formers and as clothes-kneaders, as will be hereinafter more fully explained, and pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, A A A represent an oblong box, closed on all sides but the top; B, a false bottom, resting upon bars or cleats c c, and perforated throughout for the passage of soapsuds or water to and from the space l below it through the holes Z1 b, Sac., when drawn up by the action of the sucking pistons or boxes E E on the clothes F. C is a horizontal axle or shaft, having bearings ateither end in the standards l l, rising from either side of the box A, which axle may be removed, (to put in the clothes, &c.,) with its attached lever D, by removing the respective pins, a n, which conine their several blocks, m m., over the bearings of the said axle. D is a lever, terminating beyond the end of the box A in a straight handle, to which lever, at equal distances from the axle and over the center of each of the pistons or dashcrs E E, are himg, by pins k k, the vertical rods t' t', one to each piston. These rods are each made adjustable, at any hole in their extent, to said lever, as will best operate with the quantity of clothes inthe machine, and are connected with their respective pistons, E E, by a staple or eye, 7L h, or any similar pivot or hinge. E E are two horizontal shallow inverted boxes of equal size, each occupying, horizontally, one-half of the space between the sides of the box A, and attached freely to one of the rods It l1., as above described. They are closed at the top, and their side pieces inclose a hollow of about one to one and one-half inch in depth, this shallow space being again subdivided into four by crossing divisions j' j' of the same depth. The cells thus formed are studded with several vertical pins, g g, Ste., set rmly in the bottom of the cell, and project about one-fourth of an inch beyond the mouths ofthe same, and are designed to press and knead the clothes. rlhe contiguous sides of the pistons are carried above the surface of l each box by a rising guard or wall, n a, to prevent overlapping of the pistons, or collision, when in motion. F, the clothes and soap-suds.

The operation of this invention is as follows: The clothes are put with warm suds into the box A, upon the false bottom B, and below the pistons E E, which latter are worked moderately up and down by hand-powcr on the lever D--a child of nine or ten years of age can work it-forcing the suds through the clothes from one piston to the other, alternately. The cells in each piston form a partial vacuum when rising over the clothes and water, drawing the latter through the holes b b I), Soc., in the false bottom B, up through the texture of the clothes, thus expelling the dirt and suds more or less at each motion, a similar action taking place on the descent of the piston. rIhe clothes also receive a thorough kneading from the pressure of the pins or fingers g g, Ste., within the cells, and the soap-suds are driven from one piston to the other through the clothes F'from the pressure of both piston and fingers g g, Src., at each descent of the latter, keeping the suds in a constant circuit from the space below the bottoni B through the holes b b b7 Sie., into the with the pins r/ and the perforated false botelothes and back again, taking each piston on toni B, substantially as and for the purpose its route. set forth. L

I do not claim boxes or pistons provided In testimony thatIelaim the foregoingwashwith pins in connection with a perforated false ing` apparatus I have hereunto set my hand bottom, as I ain aware that the same is not this Sth day of August, 1873.

new; but JOHN C. STEVART.

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is* Vitnesses: I

The two shallow inverted boxes E E, having JAMES THURLOW,

division-plates f, forming ee11s,in Combination JAMES M. MORSE. 

